Ephesians 4:30 – “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
Having looked at the subject of redemption, we saw that “redeem” means “to purchase back.” It is true that we have been redeemed by being purchased by the blood of Christ. But it is equally as true that there is coming a day when we will be redeemed. There is a day of redemption coming for every child of God, though we have already been redeemed.
One such verse that shows this clearly is found in Paul’s writings.
Ephesians 1:14 – “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
“Until the redemption of the purchased possession.” We have already become the purchased possession, for the Lord bought us with His own blood! But there is a day coming when those who have been purchased will be redeemed.
How Can This Be?
How can it be that we who have been redeemed in the past will be redeemed in the future? It must be first understood that there is more than one definition of the word “redeem.” We looked the definition of redeem, “to purchase back,” in my previous post. But “redeem” has another definition. I think when we understand this, any confusion will be cleared up.
The word “redeem” can also mean, according to Noah Webster, “to perform what has been promised; to make good by performance.” Notice the word “promised.” The word “redeem,” in this definition, carries with it a sense of “trading.”
Suppose I have a McDonald’s coupon for a free beverage. McDonald’s promises that, upon use of that coupon, I can have a free beverage. I can keep the coupon until it expires, and I shall not enjoy the beverage. The only way to enjoy the free beverage is to redeem the coupon. By redeeming it, I actually trade the coupon for a beverage. I give them the coupon, and they, in turn, give me a free beverage, making good what they promised.
God has made promises to the believer, and they will be fulfilled on the day of redemption.
Our Final Salvation is Promised
Philippians 1:6 – “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
This “day of Jesus Christ” is the day of redemption, where God fulfils His promise! On the day of redemption, God will, in every believer, finish the great work He has begun.
A New Body is Promised
It is true that I have been saved (past tense). This is justification. I’m not trying to be saved; I am saved! God saved me! It is equally true that I am being saved (present tense). This is sanctification. It is just as true that one day I will be saved (future tense). This is glorification.
It can also be stated in this fashion: My soul has been saved (past tense); my spirit is being saved (present tense); and my body will be saved (future tense).
I would do no harm in stating the same truth this way: I have been saved from the penalty of sin; I am being saved from the power of sin; I will be saved from the very presence of sin.
The day of redemption is a day when my promised final salvation will be a reality. I will, on that day, be saved from the very presence of sin, never to be tempted again. On that day, God will redeem my old body by changing it to a new one! My old body will be resurrected, but it will be changed.
Let me give a note concerning this. Some teach that, when we are resurrected, our old bodies will not be raised from the dead; that we will just receive a new body. That we will receive a new body is true enough; but we will receive it by having our old body changed (I Corinthians 15:51-52)! When Christ came out of the grave, He came out with the same body that was crucified (Luke 24:39; John 20:27). However, that body was changed into a glorious body (Philippians 3:21), never to die again. This is the manner in which you and I will redeem our old bodies for a new! Our old bodies will be redeemed by one of two ways. Either our old bodies will be raised from the dead, and will be immediately changed; or, if we are alive at the rapture, our bodies will be immediately changed into a glorious body. Either way, our present earthly bodies will be changed into a heavenly body! We will trade this body for a new one!
A new body! What a thought! Our bodies, in so many ways, hinder us in this life. This truth becomes more real the older we get. But be it known, there is a day coming, a day of redemption, in which we will trade this old body for a new one!
God’s promise in giving us a new body is sure! Look at Paul’s words to the Corinthians:
II Corinthians 5:1 – “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
“We have a building of God!” That is what Paul said! He does not say, “I’m trying to get a building of God;” he says rather, “I have a building of God!” This building is our new body! It is reserved in heaven for me! It is mine! It is waiting for me! We are trying to earn a new body; we HAVE a new body! God will one day make good His promise, and this old body will be changed into the body that is reserved for us!
We are waiting for that glorious day, at the rapture, when our current bodies will be redeemed, or traded, for a new one!
Romans 8:23 – “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
